Inspired by Chinese Christians, IHOP Hosts Their Final OneThing Conference: Reveals What's Next

"IHOP has been radically changed. We're deficient in flowing together as a family. The Lord used them [Chinese Christians] to wake us up. We reset our entire vision to include a homecoming dimension." -Mike Bickle

(Kansas City, MO)— [CharismaNews.com] After 19 years of hosting one of the largest young adult gatherings in the world, the International House of Prayer Kansas City (IHOPKC) is taking a hiatus from its annual OneThing conference to refocus on strengthening relationships internally and recapturing the singular devotion to Jesus exemplified by Mary of Bethany. (Photo: Worship at OneThing/Credit: Leilani Haywood/via Charisma News)

"We're going to do IHOP, but where we're really weak is building relationships with people," IHOPKC Founder Mike Bickle told Charisma.

"We're focusing on relationships with people versus hosting conferences. But we want that to come out of radical, heartfelt love for Jesus."

The annual conference attracted over 20,000 people from all over the world and generated millions of dollars for Kansas City's economy. This year, a dramatic shift began when over 1,000 Chinese pastors and leaders who experienced severe persecution hosted services at the Forerunner Church in Grandview, Missouri, in early September (Forerunner is the local church family for IHOPKC). The Chinese Believers were part of Dr. David Demian's team that travel around the world hosting "Homecomings" at churches. Dr. Demian is a leader with Watchmen for the Nations ministry based in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Bickle and IHOPKC staff were profoundly impacted by the love and relationships these Chinese Christians had with one another.

"One thousand Chinese Believers who represent 20 million Believers hosted what we called a 'Convergence,'" Bickle told attendees at a session at the last OneThing conference on Dec. 28 through Dec. 31. The series of meetings were held at the Forerunner Christian Fellowship over several days.

"IHOP has been radically changed. We're deficient in flowing together as a family. The Lord used them to wake us up. We reset our entire vision to include a homecoming dimension."

Bickle's wife, Diane, said, "Seriously, the Lord surprised us. He did this at the 'Convergence meetings' with the Chinese. Seeing their strength and ability to cover one another when most of them were persecuted, betrayed by family, incarcerated and tortured and intense suffering forged a brotherhood and sisterhood of true love."

Mike recounted part of IHOPKC's prophetic history, including a notable vision given to him in the 1980s by Bob Jones, a prophetic minister. In the vision, Jones described Asian Believers holding "unplugged TV sets" while watching praise and worship coming from Grandview, Missouri. Subscribe for free to Breaking Christian News here

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